Bellerose grad keeps the beat

There’s a different way to feel and understand drums and percussion, and it only comes to Edmonton in the spring.

Once again the Grant MacEwan University music program stages its annual Percussion Concert on Sunday, March 28 at John L. Haar Theatre, an eagerly expected show that usually packs a full house.

A rare treat for music aficionados, this 90-minute concert showcases one of the largest drum and percussion collections in the area, and they are trotted out specifically for this end-of-season occasion.

“We use about 200 different percussion instruments including keyboard instruments like marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, bells, chimes, drums like timpani, snare drums, tom toms and drum sets,” explains conductor Brian Thurgood.

For three decades he has taught at MacEwan and played locally with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Citadel, Edmonton Opera and touring shows such as Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

For the 90-minute concert, Thurgood has compiled an eclectic repertoire that spans from ragtime to the rock ‘n’ roll era, and showcases the skill, speed, virtuosity and diversity of 21 students and nine additional musicians. Each avid percussionist is versed in both traditional and contemporary styles on a wide variety of instruments.

Second-year graduating student Andy Fitzsimmons, a 2008 Bellerose grad, is jumping at the chance to strut his stuff in nine tunes.

He’ll head up a solo in Folk Music, a challenging marimba-based number that demands percussionists play bass with the left hand while handling melody with the right. “It’s a light, groovy Caribbean thing. It’s very flowing — almost like it’s telling you a story.”

And in Rudimental Ragtime, he pairs up with Jeni Nolan (piano) and Devon Allman (xylophone) for some original New Orleans jazz. “It’s almost like a duel. It goes back and forth.”

In I Love You Porgy, Fitzsimmons tackles the vibraphone whereas on the African tune Why Not, he’s pounding congas. One of the crowd pleasers will probably be Sweet Rio, a Brazilian samba with a party feel. “It makes you think of people dancing in the street.”

And the grand finale explodes with eight second-year drummers including Fitzsimmons soloing, improvising and trading off tunes. “All the songs are coming together and everyone grooves really well.”